Meagre Butterflyfish (Chaetodon paucifasciatus)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Chaetodon paucifasciatus
- Common name
- Meagre Butterflyfish
- Category
- Molluscs
- Family
- Chaetodontidae
- Genus
- Chaetodon
- Size
- 12–18 cm
- Depth
- 5–30 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- coral-reef
- Behaviours
- benthic, monogamous, territorial
- Ocean zones
- Indian Ocean & Red Sea
Description
Chaetodon paucifasciatus reaches 18 cm. Butterflyfish (Chaetodontidae) endemic to Red Sea. Pale white-yellow body with wide black vertical-oblique stripes (4-5). Monogamous, territorial pair for life. Feeds on coral polyps and small invertebrates. Coral reefs 5-30 m. No threats = LC. Visible as stable pairs, highly photogenic.
Photo of Meagre Butterflyfish
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Meagre Butterflyfish?
- Meagre Butterflyfish (Chaetodon paucifasciatus) reaches 12–18 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Meagre Butterflyfish?
- Meagre Butterflyfish is found between 5–30 m deep.
- Is the Meagre Butterflyfish dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Meagre Butterflyfish?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Meagre Butterflyfish?
- Found in: Indian Ocean & Red Sea.
Other species in the genus Chaetodon
- Chaetodon sedentarius - Reef butterflyfish
- Chaetodon ocellatus - Spotfin butterflyfish
- Chaetodon fasciatus - Diagonal butterflyfish
- Chaetodon semilarvatus - Bluecheek butterflyfish
- Chaetodon humeralis - Threebanded butterflyfish
- Chaetodon auriga - Threadfin butterflyfish
Other species in the family Chaetodontidae
- Forcipiger flavissimus - Longnose butterflyfish
- Johnrandallia nigrirostris - Barberfish
- Heniochus diphreutes - Schooling bannerfish
- Heniochus varius - Humphead bannerfish
- Forcipiger longirostris - Longnose Butterflyfish
- Prognathodes falcifer - Falcate Coralfish
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 218747)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2385551)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia